Monday, October 4, 2010

The color of OJ

OJ Simpson's mug shot was on the cover of a few magazines right after his arrest.  Most remembered was TIME's decision to drastically darken the original image.  In contrast NEWSWEEK ran a version that was much truer to the original.

I think that there were some cries of racism (making the suspected murderer black man blacker), and also just pointing out that darkening the photo was like calling OJ guilty.  What is the difference between darkening a photo and erasing elements from it?  Is this less manipulated than my earlier post of the smoking city just becase no shapes or textures were added, only the origianl pixels were shifted in color?  What do you think?

27 comments:

  1. Never saw this before, pretty interesting read.

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  2. I personally don't think this has anything to do with racism but darkening the picture to make him look guilty may have been be a little presumptuous

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  3. yea i agree with Killian. it doesn't seem like it was done to change his skin color, cause i mean....what would making him look more black do?

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  4. The color of OJ ? Black

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  5. I guess the darker a man is the scarier he is, I mean no racial but yeah... makes him look guilty

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  6. Haha I like how the media manipulates an image to get the point across

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  7. Man, I remember this. I'm following you now.

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  8. I think that people will use any excuse to try to get out of trouble. He just happen to have the best lawyers that money could buy and got beyond lucky with the evidence that was presented.

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  9. TIME's front cover looks more attention-grabbing. it's just about selling a magazine, nothing else. :)

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  10. how the times have changed.

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  11. it's a bit racist, but i think it was unintentional.

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  12. well it certainly looks more dramatic, it's a shame to see things like this that are so evident

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  13. interesting.. i dunno if it was entirely intentional. just that style of virtual lens effect, maybe. makes you think. good post.

    following.

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  14. Man this is old.. :P Still, I lol'd

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  15. I think it was more to add a darker feel to the story than emphasize him being black

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  16. Anonymous4/10/10 23:50

    I agree with Aeacus.Warden

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  17. good things to think about how people report certain news certain ways

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  18. The darkening does suggest 'grim' moods. but they should have darkened the whole area not just the face.
    Mesty =)

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  19. Anonymous5/10/10 01:51

    Super interesting

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  20. i love these scandalous comparisons. keep them coming.

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  21. Media feels that the more blacker the more evil.
    following~

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  22. Its pretty obvious its the same picture

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  23. Anonymous6/10/10 23:43

    Pffff... I clicked on this expecting to find orange juice! wth... lol

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